Chapter Two
He looked stunned,as if he’d never thought of her in that way.She wanted to punch him.There Riley sat—all calm, dependable, and damn it, gorgeous—acting almost…jealous.Which was ridiculous.Riley had made his feelings about her clear years ago when he’d rejected her in no uncertain terms.All these years later she still wanted to kick herself for throwing herself at him.But she’d been young, stupid, and thought she was in love.
She’d spent the intervening years putting Riley Fletcher out of her mind as anything but an old friend.She’d done a good job of it, too.Riley had been nothing more than a friend for many years now.Any romantic feelings she’d had for him had died long ago, or so she’d told herself.Oh, she’d held out hope for a few years, until she’d seen him with yet another of those tall, model-thin blondes with long hair, and finally accepted that the two of them were never going to happen.She simply wasn’t his type.
He’d been fine with that too.But in the past several months—since Val and Liam’s wedding, in fact—she’d gotten some different vibes from him.She’d decided she was imagining it until tonight.
Riley had kissed her.If she were honest it hadn’t felt at all like a pity kiss.In fact, it had been pretty damn good.For a moment it had felt like she could lose herself in him and not come out until they were both replete.But then she’d remembered who she was kissing and the fact that he’d never been interested before.Not to mention, the crushing rejection he’d given her when she was eighteen.What had changed besides they were both older?
He was still staring at her, not saying anything.“What?It’s never occurred to you I might have needs?Sexual needs?”
“I—it’s not something I think about.No.”
“Because you never think about me at all, do you?Not unless I’m right in front of you.”
“Damn it, Letty, that’s not true.I think about you all the time.Far more than I should.”
She snorted.“Right.”
With a sigh of frustration, he shoved a hand through his hair.“If you’re so determined to have sex tonight, I’m right here.”
Her mouth fell open.Did he mean—No, he couldn’t mean what it sounded like.“So you’re offering yourself for the job?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way.”
“How would you put it?”
“Instead of taking a risk with some dude you don’t even know, you could be with me.”
Be with him?Have sex with Riley, just to do it?To forget?No way, no how.God, what a nightmare that could turn out to be.“Why?Most of the time you don’t even know I’m alive.”
“Not true.”He reached for her hand, and she was so flabbergasted she let him.“We’ve known each other a long time.We respect each other.We’re both single.Why not see where it goes?”
“Oh, my God, Riley.”She yanked her hand away to cover her heart.“I’ve never heard a more romantic declaration.”
“Really?”
“No, you idiot.”She got up, grabbed his coat, and threw it at him.“Get out.Get out right now.”
He stood.“I didn’t express myself very well.I’ve been thinking about you for a long time.It just never seemed like the right time to say anything.”
“And you think now is?You think we should have sex and see where it goes?”
“Uh—”
“You must be freaking kidding me.”Standing on one leg, she yanked off one boot and threw it at him.It hit him in the chest.
“Hey!Watch out!”
She took off her other boot, grabbed it by the heel, walked over to him and began hitting him with the upper part.“Go away!”She punctuated each word with a slap of the boot.“I mean it, Riley.Get out.”
“I’m going.I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
“I’m not mad.I’m furious.”She shoved him until he was backed up against the door.
He stepped forward and opened the door behind him, pausing on the threshold.“We’ll talk about this when you’re not so upset.”
He shut the door before she could speak.She threw her remaining boot at the door, then yanked it open and yelled, “It will be a cold day in hell before we talk about this again, Riley Fletcher!”She slammed the door, rattling everything in her small apartment.
